The downsides of blood tests and full-body MRIs

13 snips

Nov 18, 2024

Dr. Bobby Dubois, a health policy researcher and podcast host, discusses the allure and pitfalls of direct-to-consumer blood tests and full-body MRIs. He explores how these tests can lead to unnecessary anxiety due to false positives and the misleading nature of out-of-range results. The conversation emphasizes the importance of consulting healthcare professionals to interpret test outcomes responsibly. Listeners will also learn about the financial implications of testing and the balance between proactive health measures and potential overdiagnosis.

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INSIGHT

Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Preventative Tests

Direct-to-consumer blood tests and full-body MRIs are gaining popularity.
These tests offer preventative health information without requiring a doctor's order.

INSIGHT

Understanding the Limitations of Medical Test Ranges

Medical test results aren't absolute due to ranges and variations.
Falling outside a normal range can trigger unnecessary worry and further testing, even if healthy.

ADVICE

Invasive Procedures and Their Risks

Be cautious of unnecessary invasive procedures resulting from false positives.
These can cause harm and should be considered before pursuing extensive testing.

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New companies allow us to go around doctors and get blood work that checks for 100+ biomarkers or a full-body MRI to scan for cancer when we don’t have symptoms.

The idea of taking your health into your own hands and preventing disease with a direct-to-consumer test sounds perfect in theory.

But there are some downsides to consider if you test yourself, and knowing those downsides can help you get better health outcomes from the test.

To learn more, Michael chatted with Dr. Bobby Dubois—an M.D., researcher, and Ph.D. in health policy—about how we should think about direct-to-consumer blood tests and disease screenings.

They cover:

* Preventative tests that are currently available to consumers, from blood tests that check 100+ markers to full-body MRIs and blood screenings that detect cancer.

* The upsides of these tests.

* The differences between preventative, direct-to-consumer medical tests and doctor-ordered medical tests.

* Why the results of medical tests and scans aren’t perfect, and how those imperfections can lead to unnecessary stress, costs, procedures, and your ability to get life insurance.

* Understanding the math behind preventative blood testing—why you’re likely to have at least one blood marker out of range and why that can be misleading.

* What to do if you get a direct-to-consumer test and it comes back with abnormalities.

* How abnormalities in your results are like the credit card fraud alerts you get from your bank.

* What the data says about routine screenings compared to preventative full-body MRIs and direct-to-consumer blood tests.

* The three categories of cancer and how full-body MRIs are helpful for only one of them.

* The counterintuitive downsides of catching a certain category of cancer with a full body MRI.

* Questions to ask your doctor if they’d like you to get a medical test like a CAT scan, MRI, or special type of blood work.

* Bobby’s final thoughts on direct-to-consumer preventative medical tests.

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